During lunch today, I was talking with my daughter, Megan. She has a very interesting way of putting things in perspective sometimes. We were talking about how to get churches to wake up and not sleep walk through the motions of Christian faith. She said something like this: “Dad, if Jesus can turn water to wine, then he can surely make water boil!”
That pretty much sums it up, I think, with one exception. I believe we have to want the water to boil … pray for the water to boil … and expect the water to boil. Remember what Jesus said to the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-16)?
Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen — the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
I believe Jesus longs to make the water boil, but often is waiting for us to ask for Him to light the fire — I mean really ask by making ourselves available to do what he asks. There is a high cost to asking. We can’t keep rewarding mediocrity and affirming cautious indifference. Our cardinal values can’t be keeping house and maintaining the status quo. We can’t allow the person who always wants to throw a cold wet towel into the boiling pot of Kingdom passion to keep doing it without challenge. “Follow me!” can’t mean less risk for us today than it did for the original disciples who answered that call.
Maybe the biggest challenge of all, is for us — for me — to read the parable of the talents again and again till we truly get it. It’s not just about using our talents, but it’s about how we picture God. He wants us to take risks and not fear. He wants us to realize that he despises us playing it safe. He wants us to take what he has given us and use it and (Click to read Matthew 25:14-30 in a popup window) put it into play. Laying low and being safe out of fear — burying it so we won’t lose it — provokes the same reaction as tepid water!
What do you believe is the reason we are more passionate about the Lord getting us “boiling”?
